Moving To LGBT Fargo, North Dakota? How To Find Your Perfect Gay Neighborhood!

North Dakota is generally known to be a pretty conservative state. However, the city of Fargo is surprisingly welcoming, inclusive, and progressive. If you’re thinking of moving here as an LGBT person, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised about what awaits you when relocating here…

The LGBTQ community in Fargo holds a Pride celebration annually alongside that of Moorhead, MN, its sister city. Fargo is one of the LGBT enclaves you will find across the state, and even though you might not find a very vivacious gay nightlife here, you can be sure of being part of a community that will support and affirm you. 

The stunning environment, dynamic businesses, and welcoming neighborhoods all contribute to LGBT Fargo’s appeal as a terrific location to live. Fargo boasts all four seasons, and the city always has something going on at all times! 

Summer activities include downhill skiing and bass fishing. You’ll discover that the quality of life in Fargo is one the best in the region, thanks to a strong and thriving economy and an abundance of beautiful natural surroundings. Fargo’s top-notch schools also guarantee that queer parents may provide their kids with a lot of chances to succeed as they grow up.

Fargo is a truly fabulous city that welcomes everyone looking for a progressive and inclusive place to work, play, and raise a family. If you’re contemplating relocating to LGBT Fargo, you might just discover the accepting surroundings you or your family require to prosper.

There is even a quirky gay scene in Fargo, but like Charleston, Norfolk, Durham, Columbia, and other mid-sized cities in the United States, it is rather low-key, especially when compared to Chicago or Phoenix. This is why a gay realtor in Fargo is priceless, as they can assist you in finding your new perfect home in the gaybourhood most suited to you.

Even though the LGBT community of Fargo doesn’t have specific hangouts, they improvise by identifying friendly places to meet up. Fargo is also home to a good number of LGBT-focused organizations that offer support and education to the local LGBT community.

Despite the relatively hidden LGBT culture of Fargo, moving here should not make you feel uneasy. The majority of people in Fargo are accepting of the LGBTQ community, and you will quickly discover that the majority of businesses, shops, and services will serve you with pride.

We’ll go over what you should expect when moving to LGBT Fargo, as well as how you can make the transition easier on yourself (or with your family) and make sure you’re prepared to enjoy every minute of your new life here!

Check your preconceptions at the door because moving to LGBT Fargo is not what you expect…

Highlights Of Moving To LGBTQ Fargo

Built on the fertile plains of the lush North Midwest, Fargo provides a low cost of living, a robust, diverse economy, and thankfully, a stable job market. From imaginative cuisine to vineyards, craft breweries, vineyards, and distilleries, there’s much to see and do in Fargo.

Residents of Fargo are also well aware that their underappreciated city is brimming with hidden gems. Once you move here, you’ll be able to quickly befriend locals and spend your free time discovering them.

On top of this, thanks to an offbeat yet deeply engaged LGBT community, which congregates at a few fabulous queer hot spots in the city’s most popular neighborhoods, securing a relocation here will allow you to meet queer people with similar interests.

Almost anything your heart desires is available here. When relocating to LGBT Fargo, there are numerous things to look forwards to, such as distinctive architecture, endearing coffee shops, and boozy brunch haunts.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the aspects that make up this incredible city before we get into the details.

Beer Lovers’ Heaven

In Fargo, it’s never difficult to get an excellent local beer. Superb craft beers are available directly from the tap at the Fargo Brewing Company or bottled. Art and beer enthusiasts take part in the city’s brand-new Kegs & Canvas festival, which lets attendees sample beer and artwork in the vibrant downtown area. Two things that everyone loves are combined at the Fargo Bacon & Beer Festival.

Build Your Business

The economy of Fargo has seen a significant transformation in recent years after being heavily reliant on agriculture for many years. Today, Fargo’s economy is expanding and is built on manufacturing, technology, food processing, retail trade, healthcare, and higher education. Fargo was named the second-best small city in the nation to launch a business or profession by Forbes in 2012.

It’s Got The Best Of Both Worlds

Fargo provides the advantages, culture, and entertainment, of a city while also offering the tight-knit community of a tiny city full of people. Everyone will find something to enjoy in Fargo. The city is not too big, which allows downtown to be more walkable.

Thriving Arts Scene

As part of the city’s revival, Fargo’s expanding art scene offers something for both casual enthusiasts and seasoned art connoisseurs. Visit the numerous studios and art galleries that the city has to offer downtown during the Fargo Art and Wine Walk. And don’t forget to visit the Plains Art Museum, which hosts numerous local and national exhibitions.

Does Fargo Embrace The LGBTQ Community?

While Grand Forks was the first city in North Dakota to adopt anti-discrimination laws, it loses to Fargo in this comparison. Fargo has a more ethnically diverse population.

For the most part, Fargo is willing to engage with progressive issues, work on them, and offer vigor to a state that is distinctively different from other cities. North Dakota has many places that require improvement when it comes to LGBT people.

In the case of Fargo, that entails backing the state’s oldest Pride celebration, as well as the LGBTQ Film Festival.

Although the city does not have any bars specifically for the queer folk, the typical vibe is relaxed openness. 

LGBTQ+ residents were portrayed in the 2015 North of Normal visitors’ bureau’s promotional video as not only a common aspect of the city’s community but also one of Fargo’s key selling features. Additionally, it is vocally apparent. Former president of the Pride Collective and Community Center Ken Story claims that activist gatherings have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. 

The city has changed and its goal is to accurately represent the contemporary world. Fargo acts as an oasis and hub for the LGBT population away from the rest of the state.  It provides a break from the conservative beliefs and tiny towns that are sometimes associated with North America. LGBT people from places like Valley City, Grand Forks, Minot, Bismarck, and others use Fargo as a lighthouse.

That said, it seems that Fargo and Moorhead are proudly home to a more visible community in this part of the country. However, this doesn’t mean that other areas don’t have LGBT populations in them. Even so, the LGBT community in Fargo lacks any genuine social outlets.

Since there are no gay clubs there, the locals innovate by going to welcoming restaurants to meet people. In any case, Fargo’s Pride Collective is a fantastic resource center that may send you on the correct path.

Is Fargo An Expensive City To Move To?

Besides some of your groceries, Fargo might cost you significantly less to live in than other cities in the country.  The city’s utility costs and total cost of living are significantly lower than the national average. Depending on their size, single-family homes in the city can cost anywhere from $140,000 to several million dollars.

Locals claim that mortgage rates are affordable, and even while Fargo’s property taxes are somewhat more than those in other parts of the region, they are still less expensive than those in several significant U.S. urban regions. A one-bedroom apartment for rent typically costs $500 a month or higher.

The Best Gay Neighborhoods In Fargo

While all the media today seems to this that gayborhood is dead or on the verge of extinction. We have news for them – it’s not! Instead, gayborhoods across the USA are growing in number and diversity; they might look slightly different.

Instead of being the main street serving mostly-exclusive LGBT clients (something we now think of as a gay village), gayborhoods have evolved into cultural archipelagos, a collection of queer islands coalesced by sexuality and gender and liberal allies. And cities frequently have more than one.

Today, it turns out not all LGBT people in Fargo want to live in the relative chaos of downtown Fargo – and thankfully, they (and you!) have options.

However, when choosing where to live in Fargo, remember that some areas are more conveniently located for all the fun queer events and activities. By being aware of them in advance, you can arrive at your new residence in the gay-friendly neighborhood that best suits your needs.

Discover your ideal new home in one of these prominent gay and LGBT-friendly gaybourhoods in Fargo. Each one has its own distinct personality, a friendly vibe, and amenities you’ll love and soon wonder how you ever did without.

Give yourself lots of time to get to know the diverse areas of Fargo, and bear in mind that this city has plenty to offer everyone – queer or otherwise!

Now let’s take a look at where the handful of marvelous gay areas in Fargo are and talk about the Fargo gayborhood where you might feel most at home! Or speak to a local LGBT real estate agent for a more detailed understanding of the best options today.

Downtown

Downtown Fargo used to be the center of the city’s community and its main commercial area. This area has evolved into a mix of residential and business spaces over time. Residents of this area can currently enjoy a distinctively urban lifestyle that offers access to trails, park amenities, and entertainment options thanks to the district’s distinctive setting. 

This urban lifestyle is best exemplified by the various lofts that are available in the Downtown neighborhood. The lofts include Bristol Place Loft Apartments, The Lofts on Roberts, and 8th Street Lofts. 

The Renaissance Zone and the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiatives are the two recent development schemes in Fargo that have sparked a surge in the construction of new homes and businesses. You will find detached single-family homes on the edges of this downtown area. 

This area offers access to riverside and park amenities, entertainment options, trails, and shopping for locals, employees, and tourists in an urban setting. While the edges of the downtown area have single-family detached homes, inside the neighborhood are many more housing alternatives. 

Bluemont Lakes

Bluemont Lakes community is situated in south Fargo. Between 1975 and 1986, the neighborhood was incorporated into Fargo. Although this region is mostly residential, it is close to two important commercial districts: 32nd Avenue and 25th Street. 

Woodbury Park, which has an ice-skating rink, basketball courts, and a playground, is located on the neighborhood’s northwest corner, and Ed Clapp Park, is located on the south-central edge. Here, you will find a grocery store, plenty of restaurants, the Dr. James Carlson Public Library, and some retail stores. 

Both Ed Clapp Park and Woodbury Park, which are situated in this neighborhood’s northwest and south-central corners, offer recreational possibilities. The Bluemont Lakes community is certainly something you will truly enjoy if you enjoy row and attached homes. Row houses have a unique atmosphere and charm. 

This neighborhood really sticks out because of how many row houses there are. Nearly no area in the country has a higher percentage of row and attached homes than the real estate here. Row and attached homes make up 24.0% of the local residential real estate.

Centennial

Centennial was annexed between 1989 and 1995, then the neighborhood became a part of Fargo. Lovely single-family homes make up the majority of the residences in this area. Numerous wonderful parks and multipurpose paths, including Centennial Park, Oak Creek Park, Fox Run Conservancy, Timberline Park, and Rose Coulee, can be found close to these residences. 

Centennial Park is one of the parks that have the most activities to offer because it has a lot of softball and baseball fields, a playground area, and an ice skating rink. Centennial’s average rent is $1,125. In comparison to the other neighborhoods in the region, this one has a higher average rental price.

The real estate in this neighborhood is mostly made up of studios and two-bedroom apartments, medium-sized three-four-bedroom apartment complexes, and single-family homes. The residential real estate in Centennial is occupied by a mix of renters and owners.

LGBTQ+ Community Organizations In Fargo

The Fargo region is home to a wealth of options for the LGBTQ+ community. For LGBTQ+ parents, parents who have children who identify as LGBTQ+, and people looking to support the LGBTQ+ community, below are some resources that might come in handy. 

Wherever you live, it is critical that you support LGBT organizations in any way you can use so that they can keep reaching out to and assisting other members of the community who are more vulnerable. After all, we are all stronger when we work together, and each of us will likely have a time in our lives when we require a little extra support.

Fargo has a supportive and diverse LGBTQ community, which has helped the city become more gay-friendly in recent years.

As a result, there are a variety of LGBT resources available to community members, their allies, friends, and families – and you ought to feel free to utilize them or consider giving your support as needed to keep your new home city moving forwards! They are also a place to meet new people and find your queer chosen family in Fargo.

Community Uplift Program

The Community Uplift Program seeks to assist at-risk LGBTQ+, and People of Color with life issues and arrange the assistance they require. The program does this through community activities and discussion groups.  

CUP is a nonprofit organization that is openly queer. To assist locals in regaining their independence, the organization collaborates with Free Through Recovery, Community Connect, and ND Rent Help.

Care Coordinators help participants set goals relating to recovery, employment, housing, and criminal histories. They also help them find the right community services. Peer support specialists interact with participants through their shared experiences to motivate them to work with care coordinators. 

Parents of LGBTQ Kids Fargo Moorhead

Parents of LGBTQ Kids Fargo Moorhead seeks to connect with parents whose kids identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, gender expansive, or questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation.

Pride Collective & Community Center

The Pride Collective & Population Center was established to cultivate a sense of belonging, support education, and encourage social events for the LGBTQ community in the region. The Center is available for different activities, drop-in support, and socializing throughout business hours.

Video games, board games, and a movie collection are all available. A comprehensive collection of books on a range of subjects is also available for checkout.

LGBTQ+ Community Events in Fargo

After moving to a new city, you will likely want to create new connections, meet new people, and network. Thankfully, LGBT Fargo plays host to a variety of annual events for lesbians, transgender persons, gays, and anyone else who wants to have a good time.

While there are many queer events in the city, the ones listed here are the largest and greatest and are all worth marking in your calendar as you won’t want to miss them.

Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival

The Fargo-Moorhead LGBT Film Festival honors LGBT lived experiences through the work of innovative filmmakers. The event, which is held in September each year, is an awesome opportunity to view and enjoy works from many LGBT artists.

FM Pride

Through community activities, FM PRIDE combines and connects people and organizations in order to empower, inform, and support the LGBTQ Community in the Fargo-Moorhead region. As one of the biggest rural pride events in the country, the Pride celebrations gather people from all throughout North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and even into Canada every year!

LGBT-Owned Businesses In Fargo

Fargo is home to many LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses you would be happy to patronize. Here are a few that we like.

It’s only normal to want to support queer businesses after relocating to LGBT Fargo. Making a safe space where individuals can relax, shop, eat, and meet without fear is one way to build a safer and more accepting society – and LGBT businesses are frequently doing the heavy lifting to achieve this goal.

It is crucial to support these projects wherever you reside to ensure the survival and development of the queer community. When you shop local, you are personally investing in your city and community – a small step that can be transformational when people do it en masse.

Here are just a few of our favorite LGBTQ+-owned companies in Fargo that you can support with your pink dollars…

Red Raven Espresso Parlor 

The Red Raven Espresso Parlor has been Fargo’s sole worker-run and owned coffee shop for over ten years. Along with a wonderful selection of vegetarian and vegan food, Red Raven serves a range of espresso and coffee drinks.

They also provide a stage for a variety of touring and local acts. Red Raven aims to give people more control over their lives, both in and outside of the workplace. They have fostered an eclectic setting that encourages individuality, innovation, and equality. 

Teaberry

Teaberry is known for its distinctive “boba teas” and for being one of Downtown Fargo’s coziest hangouts.  Juices, smoothie-like beverages, and unique treats like traditional tapioca pearls, and sweetened popping bubbles are all available.

All drinks are created from scratch, which means you can relax on one of their plush couches and enjoy a delectable beverage while dodging the Fargo summer heat, or winter cold.

Silver Lining Creamery 

Silver Lining Creamery is popular for offering Fargo residents a unique twist on ice cream. Visit the joint for a spicy chocolate flavor, Basil Blueberry, or Huckleberry cotton candy. Whichever one you choose, you will not get disappointed.

Final Thoughts On Moving To LGBTQ Fargo

Fargo is a city that offers much in terms of exceptional educational opportunities, clean air, and lots
of opportunities for recreation and fun! There’s always something to do here and many organizations to
get involved in. It will probably come as a surprise that this isn’t the city you were expecting, but it has all
you’ve been hoping for.

We hope you receive the freedom and security you deserve if you decide to start your new chapter in LGBT Fargo. However, please remember that life is what you make of it.

The best ways to learn more about LGBT Fargo are to live in a gay-friendly neighborhood, support local queer businesses and events, and join LGBT community clubs, organizations and teams.

We promise that if you go by these suggestions, moving to LGBT Fargo will be less challenging for you and that you’ll meet like-minded individuals and build up that all-important support network quickly.

Finding Gay Realtors In Fargo

Why would you consider someone’s sexuality when hunting for the ideal realtor? This may appear strange at first, but there are numerous reasons why contacting a gay realtor in Fargo is a good way to discover your dream house.

After all, it’s not unrealistic to expect fair, equal, and honest representation from someone who comprehends the queer community’s specific needs and desires when engaging in one of life’s most important transactions.

Further to that, sadly many people (up to one-third of Americans) still genuinely think that our community does not deserve protection and dignity in areas such as housing, adoption, employment, and other aspects of life.

As a result, it’s not surprising that LGBT people who use mainstream realtors frequently express discomfort, unnecessary trouble, unenthusiastic representation, or even antagonism or outright contempt.

Everyone deserves a pleasurable, stress-free home buying or selling experience while being adequately represented, which is why we believe you should hire a gay realtor to assist you in uncovering your ideal future home.

When looking for a home, LGBTQ realtors are more likely to be informed about the diverse communities in their area and fully comprehend which ones may be particularly well suited to you. This isn’t to say heterosexual realtors aren’t competent; they’ve just never had to deal with many of the challenges that LGBT people face.

Gay realtors conduct thorough research into the neighborhoods in which they sell homes to make sure their customers are safe, rather than just being concerned with how thriving, trendy, or up-and-coming a neighborhood is (or appears to be).

It used to be challenging to uncover professional LGBT-friendly real estate agents in Fargo – and it was virtually impossible to find one if you were relocating here from out of state and didn’t have access to a local referral.

Thankfully, you no longer have to search for a realtor without knowing whether or not they are accepting of others because you can use a list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents in Fargo to do all of your homework for you.

Simply go to the page, and you’ll be presented with a free list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents who can help you with your relocation as well as other useful information like LGBT+friendly schools, shopping, storage firms, tradesmen, and more.

Read the biographies of LGBT real estate agents, then select the one who is right for you. It’s essential that you find someone who will be by your side and support you and your family during one of life’s most exhilarating occasions.

Even better, there is no hidden motive, cost, or obligation whatsoever!